Coyotes (27-21-10) at Jets (28-26-6)
Puck drop: 6 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620) and KPKX-FM (98.7).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Klinkhammer-Hanzal-Vrbata
McMillan-Ribeiro-Doan
Chipchura-Halpern-Moss
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Bissonnette and Summers.
Injury update: None
Possible Jets lines:
Ladd-Little-Frolik
Kane-Scheifele-Wheeler
Setoguchi-Jokinen-Byfuglien
Thorburn-Wright-Slater
Bogosian-Enstrom
Stuart-Trouba
Pardy-Ellerby
Pavelec
Potential scratches: Postma, Peluso and Tangradi.
Injury update: Forward Matt Halischuk (forearm) and defenseman Grant Clitsome (back) are on injured reserve.
On resuming the season after the Olympic break against the Jets:
"I think guys are anxious to play, which you want," coach Dave Tippett said. "They recognize the situation we're in, 24 games left, and how important they are. We’re going to play one of those teams in the mix, and we’re going to have to play well."
On how his players will transition back into the pace of the game:
"You're going to have to get out there and get back into the rhythm of things," Tippett said. "I don't think they’ll be much trouble in players picking it up. I think it’ll come back quick."
This is the first game of three in four nights:
"It is what it is," Tippett said. "You’ve just got to deal with it. We’re going to make a point we use everybody and get the maximum performance out of everybody. But we’re going to play a lot of this tight-game hockey in the next month or so. So we’ve got to get used to it."
-Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson leads the Coyotes with four game-winning goals.
-Center Mike Ribeiro has eight points his his last 10 games.
-The Coyotes are 16-3-1 when leading after the first period this season.
-Goalie Mike Smith is 7-6 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .910 save percentage against the Jets franchise.
-The Jets are 9-3-1 since coach Paul Maurice took over.
-Nine of the last 11 games for the Jets have been decided by a goal.
-Captain Andrew Ladd is in the midst of a five-game point streak (two goals and four assists).
-The Jets became the first team to carry nine double-digit goal scorers.

The Coyotes readjusted their Friday practice schedule to accommodate the clash between Canada and the U.S. at the Olympics, but the rivalry between Sweden and Finland in the other semifinal is just as serious.
"It’s a game we can’t lose," Swedish defenseman David Rundblad said. "It’s just the worst to lose to Finland, so we pretty much have to win it."
Sweden is a spotless 4-0 so far in the tournament and has been led by stellar defending and goaltending, boasting a pair of shutouts. Finland has been impressive, too. They won two preliminary round games, lost to the Canadians in overtime in the other and then knocked out the host Russians in the quarterfinals.
"It’s two good teams," Rundblad said. "I haven't watched Finland play yet, but everyone knows they have a really good goalie. But I've gotta cheer for Sweden. I think they win 3-1 maybe."
Like Canada and the U.S., Sweden and Finland are neighboring countries. They also have a rich history of battles, including the gold-medal final in the 2006 Olympics. Sweden won that game 3-2.
"I would say it’s kind of similar to what’s going on between U.S. and Canada," Rundblad said. "It’s the worst team to lose against, and it’s always tough games. It’s two good teams, so you want to win so much against them."
Here's what other Coyotes players are saying about the matchup:
Winger Dave Moss: "I think it will be a really good game. I actually think Sweden has a better team. I’ll take them in that game."
Defenseman Chris Summers: "Just playing in international events, U-18, U-17 and World Juniors, you see the rivalry. That Finland-Sweden game, it’s a lot like Canada-U.S. We actually played in Sweden against Finland, and the Swedish fans actually cheered for us for U-18, which was really cool."
Winger Paul Bissonnette: "I like the way Finland plays. They play a greasy style, very North American. Trap you with that 1-3-1 sometimes. You got a bunch of muckers and grinders. But I think offensively and just all around athleticism, Sweden is just too good. So I’m going to predict Sweden and score-wise maybe a 3-2 with an empty-netter so 4-2."
Captain Shane Doan: "Sweden’s got such a good team. They’ve won it in the past, and obviously Finland got the bronze last time and they’d be excited to improve on that. But you probably gotta go with Sweden."
The game pits Coyotes teammates Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Sweden) and Lauri Korpikoski (Finland) against each other.
"Hopefully they both have a great game and find a way to contribute," Doan said. "You just cheer for the guys you know, and you hope that they have great games. Obviously, you know one of them's going to be disappointed but you hope that both contribute."

Coyotes winger Lauri Korpikoski wasn't sure where he'd land on Finland's depth chart, but he didn't need much prodding to name one player he wouldn't mind skating next to.
"It’ll be nice to lace it up with Teemu (Selanne), too, for a couple shifts and see if he can still skate," he said with a smile.
Unfortunately for Korpikoski, he didn't play on Selanne's line in Thursday's opener at the Olympics but he was part of Finland's 8-4 win over Austria. He played 15:42 with two shots on goal.
"Coming from a smaller country, it's that all-hands-on deck mentality and every time you go to these tournaments, it's fun," Korpikoski said before leaving for Sochi. "It's something you grow up watching those Olympic tournaments, World Championships.
"Obviously, hockey is huge back home. It's the main sport there. It's always as a kid a dream to play for your country, and I'm lucky enough to do that a few times."
The tournament has largely been billed a four-team race with Russia, Canada, the U.S. and Sweden considered the top teams. But Finland shouldn't be discredited.
Here's Korpikoski's take on his team:
"Obviously, our goaltending is good. All three goalies can play. I think chemistry is another thing. I think we have some guys that have played together before. We don’t have really big names in there, but we have some solid players that can play good both sides of the puck.

"So I think the key for us is to find some scoring. We don’t have a lot of scorers but if we get some scoring, some guys that are having a good tournament offensively, that will help us and then we just play good defense. That’s kind of the way a team can always have success."

Clearly, an eight-goal outburst is a strong start, even if it is against a weaker opponent. But that's what players like so much about this tournament. One game can change everything.

"You never know if your team starts going or not, not clicking together, so just go out there and play and see how it goes," Korpikoski said. "Obviously, we hope to be playing until the very end and I think it's just play for your country there and then it's a different game coming back here."

What Korpikoski believes will help Finland is some of their players are familiar with the larger ice surface because they play in Europe during the regular season.

"Sometimes it’s harder to get in a forecheck," he said. "It’s a long ways to go everywhere. But once you have the puck, it seems like you have that time and space to do things. But when you don’t have the puck, it’s a little different. You have to be patient, save your energy, can’t run around or go on the forecheck like in the smaller ice because like I said, the distance is so much longer."

With goalie Carey Price playing in Canada's first game and Luongo playing in Game No.2, it's clear Smith is third on the depth chart. That doesn't mean that he won't appear for Canada at some point during the tournament but if Price and Luongo play well, Smith's odds of getting ice time seem slim.

And he was well-aware of that possibility going into the Games.

"I'd love to play," Smith said. "Obviously, I think saying that, everyone's going to have a job on the team. I think most guys are stars on their respective teams in the NHL and when you go over there, it’s all about Team Canada and winning a gold medal. I’m just going to do whatever I have to do to make it the best experience for myself and the team and hopefully come out with a gold medal."

Even though he honed his craft on the international ice surface, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson wasn't so sure about transitioning back to the larger rink for the Olympics.
When asked if he liked the big ice, Ekman-Larsson said, "Not anymore. I played almost my whole life on the bigger ice, but I haven’t been doing that in a long time."
Apparently, Ekman-Larsson had nothing to worry about. He looked completely at home in Wednesday's tournament opener, tallying two assists for Sweden in its 4-2 win over the Czech Republic.
And as expected, Ekman-Larsson was paired with Ottawa blue liner Erik Karlsson, who scored twice. The pair's mobility, offensive vision and defensive awareness confirmed Sweden's status as a favorite to grab gold.
“We have a great chance to get a gold medal," Ekman-Larsson said before the tournament started. "There’s a lot of good teams there, and it’s going to be tough to win a gold medal. But that’s what we’re going for.”
Perhaps surprisingly, this is the first time Ekman-Larsson and Karlsson have played together consistently in international competition.
"I played with him at my first World Championship (in 2011) but just on power play," Ekman-Larsson said. "That was kind of fun. He’s such a good player."
Ekman-Larsson's Olympic debut was the best among the Coyotes. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek suited up for the Czechs, but center Martin Hanzal was a scratch.
Before jetting off to Sochi, Hanzal wasn't sure what his role would be for the Czech Republic.
"I don’t know where is my spot or if I’ll play power play or if I’ll play penalty kill," he said. "I’m not really sure right now but in the end, it’s all about winning and all about the medals. So I’ll take any part of the team and just do my best.”
Regardless, Hanzal is ecstatic to be at the Olympics. He fondly remembers the Czech Republic winning gold at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.
"I would call it the best tournament because the NHL stops and you have all these superstars playing in a tournament and competing for a gold medal," Hanzal said. "I think it’s probably the best tournament in the world, and it’s definitely a huge honor for me and I’m really proud.”
This is Michalek's second tour of the Olympics. He also played in 2010 in Vancouver, and that experience is a clear asset for the Czechs. He played in Wednesday's game on what looked like the Czech's top pairing with Marek Zidlicky.
"It’s a special experience," Michalek said before the Games started. "It’s the best players there and something every player wants to be part of, so I’m really happy about that."
The tournament has also turned into a reunion of sorts for Michalek. His brother Milan, a forward for the Ottawa Senators, is also on the team, and their parents are in Sochi to watch them play.
"They’re very excited and proud of us," Michalek said. "I don’t think they would miss it."

Trade chatter picked up in the days leading up to the Olympic roster freeze, but not much materialized before it was implemented Friday.
Some of the most buzzed about players, including Buffalo’s Ryan Miller, remained in place despite increasing speculation that they could be dealt. The goalie is an impending unrestricted free agent and has been a regular in trade rumors.
It’s still possible he’s moved at the trade deadline, which is March 5, but at least for now he’s with the Sabres.
"I don’t know if the right deal is going to come along," Sabres General Manager Tim Murray told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "It’s not 'when.' It’s 'if' more so than 'when.' I just think there has to be certain types of prospects and players involved in a deal like that, so I just need a team that thinks the same way."
Miller isn’t the only prized trade target out there, but he headlines a list of potential UFAs on the Sabres’ books. Captain Steve Ott, winger Matt Moulson and defenseman Henrik Tallinder could also be in play.
"I’m making a lot of calls, but I’m making them to guys that called me first," Murray said. "The teams that have showed the most interest in certain players, I’m obviously trying to keep in contact with them every day to see where we’re going. I’m just listening and hopefully get an offer that I think is worthwhile on a couple of our guys, and if not then that’s the way it goes."
This is Murray’s first trip through the trade frenzy. He was appointed to Buffalo’s GM role last month, and it’s his first time in the position.
"The challenge is that I’m new so I think there are established GMs that certainly want to test me, and that’s fair," Murray said. "Rookie players get tested all the time. Hopefully, my support staff, the guys that I talk to in our organization about trades, point me in the right direction. I have my ideas, and I certainly want to involve other people in the organization in them.”
While Murray is familiar with all GMs, he's in the midst of building relationships with some. Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has told him he’ll eventually get to the point where he has a crew he can rely on more than others.
"He said you end up with certain guys you trust, and those are the guys you probably deal with more so than others,” Murray said. “I don’t have that right now, but I’m comfortable in the fact that I’ve been around the game a long time and I’ve been around these guys and I know them all. I don’t think they’re going to help me, but I don’t think that they feel that they can pull the wool over my eyes."
Too tall
Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is already in Sochi as he missed out on his team’s final two games before the Olympic break to be Slovakia’s flag bearer in Friday’s opening ceremony.
But with the extra time in Russia, Chara hasn’t exactly settled in seamlessly. He had to have an ottoman pushed up against the foot of his twin bed so that his 6-foot-9 frame would fit.
“I did see that…that’s pretty crazy,” defenseman Torey Krug told Joe Haggerty of Comcast SportsNet New England. “I don’t know what else to say about it. Good luck to Zee. I hope he can get some pretty good rest.”
Chara isn’t the only Bruin who might have trouble getting a comfortable sleep at night. Their 6-foot-2 goalie Tuukka Rask will also be in Russia to play for Finland.
“I heard they just put a futon at the end of the bed, and that’s just it,” Rask said. “You’re that tall. What can you do? You just have to deal with it.”
Replacement rumors
As soon as Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin was ruled out of the Olympics with a rib injury, speculation of who would replace him on Team Sweden began to swirl.
And many believed Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund would get the nod after preliminary reports emerged on Thursday suggesting as much.
But instead, a day later, Washington Capitals center Marcus Johansson was added to the roster.
"From what I understand, a Swedish reporter wrote that he thinks I should be on the team, so Canadian reporters thought that was a done deal and blew it up,” Backlund told Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald.
Backlund wasn't on Sweden’s short list, and he hadn’t been drug-tested. Still, there was some merit to the rumors because he’s already established career-highs in goals and assists this season and recently had a stretch of 10 points in six games.
To help resolve the confusion, Backlund tweeted that he hadn’t heard from Swedish Olympic officials.
"I got a lot of texts on my phone, and tweets. I didn’t hear anything, so I had to let everyone know,” he said. “For everybody, no confusion, I sent out a tweet there, and Calgary the same. A lot of people got excited for me. So I just didn’t want the whole world to be excited for me, to calm it down. I want to go, but even though it blew up before, it’s not a big deal to me. I appreciate all the support I got. It was awesome. People want me to go."
Like father, like son
During their two-game trip through Florida last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs had some extra passengers – their dads.
“It’s always a special time,” coach Randy Carlyle told Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun. “We bring the fathers in, and they get to spend some time on the road. They can see the babysitting I have to do.”
The Leafs lost to the Panthers 4-1 but then beat the Lightning by the same score.
“It’s a little bit of a motivation,” Carlyle said. “They want to play well in front of their fathers, and we will send that message home numerous times -- to make your dad and your family proud of you. There’s nothing wrong with that. Everybody does it.”

Coyotes (27-20-10) at Stars (26-21-10)
Puck drop: 6 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KTAR-FM (92.3).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Doan-Ribeiro-Vrbata
Chipchura-Halpern-Moss
Klinkhammer-Kennedy-Bissonnette
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Murphy
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Rundblad, Morris and Hanzal.
Injury update: Center Martin Hanzal (illness) will be a game-time decision, and defenseman Derek Morris (upper-body injury) didn't make the trip to Dallas.
Possible Stars lines:
Jamie Benn-Seguin-Nichushkin
Cole-Eakin-Peverley
Roussel-Fiddler-Garbutt
Whitney-Horcoff-Chiasson
Goligoski-Daley
Dillon-Jordie Benn
Connauton-Gonchar
Lehtonen
Potential scratches: Rome.
Injury update: Defenseman Stephane Robidas (broken leg).
This is the final game before the Olympic break for both teams:
"The importance of the game, the team we're playing against, we just happened to play them a few days ago," coach Dave Tippett said. "Everybody recognizes that the break's coming, but you want to leave everything out there you can (to) give ourselves the best chance to win."
“Yeah, we need that win desperately,” defenseman Keith Yandle said. We need it bad. I think everyone knows it’s a big win (Friday) but for us to feel good about ourselves and where we’re at, we have to have a good game (tonight) in Dallas.
The Coyotes lost to the Stars 3-1 on Tuesday:
“We talked a lot (Friday) about just the individual battles of how you build a game,” Tippett said. “When you have a team like a Chicago, if you’re not willing to battle, you’re not going to be behind. The Dallas game before that, hopefully we learned that from that game because we lost too many battles in that game that cost us the game.”
On Friday’s 2-0 win over the Blackhawks:
“Yandle was really good, and Smitty gave us a heck of a game,” Tippett said. “But our whole group, I thought we battled hard. We were hard in battles. We wanted a good start. We got off to a good start. We gotta keep that mindset going into (tonight) and see if we can find a way to get points before the break.”
Goalie Mike Smith has stopped 89 of the last 92 shots he's faced:
“Sometimes it’s just better to sit back a bit and relax and let the puck come to you, and I feel like that’s what I’ve done the last little while,” Smith said. “I think I had a good talk with (goalie coach Sean Burke) about that, being a calming influence back there rather than trying to make things out of nothing and puck-handling and making hard saves look easy is more of a calming influence on the whole group. So I think that’s been part of my game plan the last little while, and hopefully I can continue that.”
-Defenseman Michael Stone's next game will be the 100th of his career.
-Winger Mikkel Boedker leads the team in road scoring with nine goals and 22 points.
-Yandle is one assist shy from moving into a tie for sixth place on the franchise's all-time assists list for defensemen.
-Smith is 7-2-5 with two shutouts, a 1.95 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 14 career games against the Stars.
-The Stars have grabbed points in five of their last seven games against the Coyotes.
-Goalie Kari Lehtonen is 8-3-4 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 15 career appearances against the Coyotes.
-The Stars are 3-1-1 in their last five home games.
-The Stars have earned at least a point in each of the team's last 12 games against the Pacific Division.

By Sarah McLellan
azcentral sports
Defenseman Keith Yandle isn’t the only American on the Coyotes roster, but the pregame ceremony that honored the gold-medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team seemed to resonate just a little bit more with him.
Maybe because he’s familiar with some of the players. Captain Mike Eruzione, who stopped to give Yandle a handshake and a few pats on the chest before dropping the ceremonial puck on Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, has his mail delivered by Yandle’s aunt.
It also could be because Yandle was oh-so-close to being an Olympian himself, one of the last defenseman left off the American roster that will make its way to Sochi.
But whatever the reason, Yandle was motivated.
“I think everybody felt American tonight,” he said.
And that turned out to be a valuable push for the Coyotes, who used a pair of power play goals – one of which came from Yandle – and an outstanding 29-save performance by goalie Mike Smith to shut out the Blackhawks 2-0 in front of a season-high 17,525 at Jobing.com Arena.
“I also think anytime you play these guys, the importance for the game for us and finishing on a strong note at the break is big for us, and I thought we did a good job handling it,” Yandle said.
That bumped the Coyotes into the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, giving them a hold on a playoff spot for the first time since Jan.9.
“We have to be ready to play tomorrow to stay in that spot,” Yandle said. “We can’t count on other teams. We gotta worry about ourselves and go into break feeling good.”
Smith, who posted his second shutout of the season, third against the Blackhawks and 26th of his career, has now stopped 89 of his last 92 shots, peaking at an important time for the Coyotes and his future Olympic endeavors.
“It’s the time in the season right now where it’s go-time, and obviously you need to bring your ‘A’ game to play against a team like that,” Smith said. “It’s a great opportunity to rise to the occasion, and it was an exciting atmosphere in the rink tonight and I think that just gives a little extra motivation also.”
Smith will be one of three goaltenders representing Team Canada in Sochi and although he’s widely considered to be the No.3, no firm decisions have been announced.
Smith will play Saturday against the Stars in Dallas.
“I’m never satisfied,” Smith said. “I think I played well tonight. But just when you think you’ve got it, it can turn. So going game-by-game, not looking too far ahead here and look forward to tomorrow. But it’s been better as of late, and I’m just going to try to continue that.”
The Blackhawks were penalized only 1:01 into the first period, and it took Yandle only eight seconds to capitalize with a one-timer from the point.
With an assist on the play, center Antoine Vermette pushed his career-best point streak to nine games.
“It kind of set the tempo for that first period,” Smith said. “It was a big goal by Yands, great shot and good to get a power play and to get some momentum in our game.”
Smith doubled his work load in the second period, finishing with 14 saves, and plenty were challenging.
After Blackhawks winger Patrick Sharp batted a puck out of the air and Smith kicked his pads together to make the save, Sharp just stood in front of the crease. Before skating back up the ice, he simply looked back at Smith and stared.
“I want to help this team win so badly that sometimes that’s a double-edged sword,” Smith said. “It can work against you. Sometimes it’s just better to sit back a bit and relax and let the puck come to you, and I feel like that’s what I’ve done the last little while.”
Perhaps a performance like this from the Coyotes wasn’t surprising. They preserved the trend of delivering their best in marquee matchups, and this definitely counted as one.
Ten members from that 1980 Olympic team were part of the Olympic sendoff for the Coyotes and Blackhawks’ Olympians. This was the Coyotes final home game before the break.
And with their playoff potential uncertain, the Coyotes played with the urgency that they want to be among the top eight.
“We talked about that, having that extra motivation,” Yandle said. “We’re aware they can embarrass you, and you can be out of the game pretty quick. For us, we have to be better against every other team and bring it like we did tonight.”
Actually, the game was reminiscent of a playoff game – particularly of the one against the Blackhawks two years ago when Andrew Shaw collided with Smith behind the net and was tagged with a three-game suspension
Late in the second period of this game, Smith was run into by Brandon Saad, whose foreman hit Smith’s head. Smith’s mask went flying, but he was OK.
The Coyotes earned a 5-on-3 power play, and Yandle helped set up a goal by winger Radim Vrbata, another Olympic snub, whose shot from the slot beat goalie Corey Crawford five-hole at 18:29. It was the first time the Coyotes scored a pair of power play goals in a game since Dec.21. The Blackhawks went 0-for-2 in getting shut out for the first time this season.
“You’ve got to do what you can to score, and obviously Vrby’s an elite scorer,” Yandle said about Vrbata, who was overlooked for the Czech Republic team. “He found a way to get us a goal and 5-on-3. It was big for us.”
Overall, the Coyotes finished this homestand with three wins against teams a combined 58 games over .500. They lost two games to teams that are 14 games below .500.
Still, those three wins improved the Coyotes chances of maintaining a playoff berth at the Olympic break and gave further backed up the claim that they can compete with some of the league’s better teams.
“We want to be in a playoff position anytime let alone the break,” coach Dave Tippett said. “One more game and players know that they’re going to get a rest after this, so they better bring all they’ve got tomorrow.”
Ice chips
-Defenseman Derek Morris left the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. He didn’t accompany the team to Dallas.
“The break will be coming at a good time for him,” Tippett said.
-Center Martin Hanzal did travel to Dallas despite missing Friday’s game with an illness. Hanzal was questionable to play in the morning but was ruled out four hours before puck drop. He’s possible to play against the Stars.

Blackhawks (35-10-14) at Coyotes (26-20-10)
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620) and KPKX-FM (98.7).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Doan-Hanzal-Vrbata
Kennedy-Ribeiro-Moss
Bissonnette-Chipchura-Halpern
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Stone
Smith
Potential scratches: Rundblad, Klinkhammer and Murphy.
Injury update: None.
Possible Blackhawks lines:
Sharp-Toews-Hossa
Saad-Handzus-Versteeg
Bickell-Pirri-Shaw
Bollig-Kruger-Smith
Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Rozsival
Leddy-Brookbank
Crawford
Potential scratches: Kostka, Oduya and Kane.
Injury update: Defenseman Johnny Oduya (lower-body) is doubtful.
On the Blackhawks:
"Obviously, this is our last home game (before the Olympic break)," coach Dave Tippett said. "Very good team in Chicago coming in. Hopefully we can regroup after the Dallas game and find a way to get some points."
"Obviously, everyone knows about the Hawks and how powerful they are," goalie Mike Smith said. "I think saying that, we recognize that there are two games left before the break and nothing left to save it for. I think we’re really going to focus on a good team game (Friday) night and let it all out there and see what happens."
The Blackhawks will be without winger Patrick Kane so he can attend the funeral of his grandfather:
"They've got a few other weapons in there, too," Tippett said. "We’ll worry about what we’re doing and make sure we're prepared."
-The Coyotes and Blackhawks have a combined 15 players heading to the Olympics.
-Center Antoine Vermette ranks second in the league with 112 shorthanded faceoffs won.
-The Coyotes have outscored the Blackhawks 4-1 in the second period this season.
-Smith is 5-4-1 with two shutouts, a 3.01 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 10 career games against Chicago.
-The Blackhawks rank first in the NHL with 3.42 goals-per-game.
-They're one of three teams this season that hasn't been shut out.
-Chicago ranks fifth on the power play (22.3 percent).
-Winger Brandon Bollig leads the Hawks with 129 hits.

Stars (25-21-9) at Coyotes (26-19-10)
Puck drop: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: FSAZ-Plus/KMVP-AM (860).
Possible Coyotes lines:
Korpikoski-Vermette-Boedker
Doan-Hanzal-Vrbata
Klinkhammer-Ribeiro-Moss
Bissonnette-Chipchura-Halpern
Ekman-Larsson-Michalek
Yandle-Morris
Schlemko-Murphy
Smith
Potential scratches: Rundblad, Kennedy and Stone.
Injury update: None.
Possible Stars lines:
Jamie Benn-Seguin-Nichushkin
Cole-Eakin-Peverley
Roussel-Fiddler-Garbutt
Whitney-Horcoff-Chiasson
Dillon-Jordie Benn
Goligoski-Daley
Rome-Gonchar
Lehtonen
Potential scratches: Jeffrey and Connauton.
Injury update: Defenseman Stephane Robidas (leg).
On the Stars:
"I know the coach (Lindy Ruff) well," coach Dave Tippett said. "We worked together in a few World Championships, so I know Lindy well. A very good coach. Does a really good job. Some diff players, obviously. A big trade they made last summer changed a little bit of the complex of their team. Jamie Benn is still a very strong player for them. It’s interesting a lot of the stats on the teams are very similar. It’ll be a tight game tonight."
This is center Mike Ribeiro's first game against the Stars since he was traded from Dallas in 2012:
"I’m sure he’s excited to play against some old friends and certainly when you play a long time in a place, there's good memories," Tippett said. "But you also want to beat that other team, so I’m sure that’ll be his feeling tonight."
"It’s always fun to play against your old team," Ribeiro said. "Two years later I have a chance to do it. I think it’s going to be interesting."
-Goalie Mike Smith is one win shy of the 20-win plateau. He's only reached that mark one other time in his career (38 wins in 2011-12).
-The Coyotes are 19-4-3 in February since the 2011-12 season.
-Captain Shane Doan and Ribeiro have both scored a team-high eight goals in the third period.
-Center Antoine Vermette leads all Phoenix forwards with 45 blocked shots.
-The Stars have grabbed points in four of their last six games against the Coyotes.
-Goalie Kari Lehtonen is 7-3-4 with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 15 career appearances against the Coyotes.
-Captain Jamie Benn is the midst of a season-long six-game point streak (five goals and five assists).
-Winger Tyler Seguin carries a five-game point streak into tonight's game. He has three goals and six assists in that span.

Goalie Ben Scrivens has only worn an Edmonton Oilers crest for less than three weeks, but he's already worked his way into their record books.
Scrivens amassed a jaw-dropping 59 saves Wednesday in a 3-0 shutout win over the San Jose Sharks, grabbing the NHL record for most saves in a regular-season shutout. Coyotes goalie Mike Smith held the previous record, which was 54, for his performance April 3, 2012, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"I owe the shot-keeper a beer," Scrivens told Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal after the game.
The only other shutouts with more than 59 saves in league history came in the playoffs. Dominik Hasek had 70 in 1994 in four overtimes, and Patrick Roy posted 63 in 1996 through three overtimes.
Bill Ranford, who was Scrivens' goalie coach in Los Angeles before he was traded by the Kings to the Oilers Jan.15, previously held the Oilers record for most saves in a single game with 54.
Former Oilers netminder Tommy Salo leads the team with 23 shutouts but never eclipsed 29 shots. Curtis Joseph ranks second (14) and never went higher than 40 in regulation. Even the great Grant Fuhr, who had nine shutouts as an Oiler, never topped 36.
Scrivens stopped 42 shots through the first 40 minutes.
"Funny thing is I felt awful in warmup," Scrivens said. "Very inauspicious start to the night."
Focusing on first
Only three games separate the St. Louis Blues from the Olympic break, but they hope that's plenty of time to lasso the top spot in the Central Division.
They sat No.1 after a win over the New Jersey Devils last Tuesday, but a 5-2 victory for the Chicago Blackhawks over the Vancouver Canucks pushed the Blues back down to second.
"I want to see value for the work,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I want to see us go into the break feeling good about ourselves, that we’ve earned the right to lead the division. I just don’t want to see us play out the string and assume that we’re just going to continue to take a back seat to these top teams. I want us to lead the pack. So leading the division at the break is a goal that myself and all the players want to attain.”
What's encouraging for the Blues is all of their remaining games before the break are on home ice where they're 20-5-2. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are touring the Pacific Division this week.
"Every game we have to take individually and make sure we’re taking care of our business, getting better and establishing good habits for a great run after we come back," captain David Backes said.
In the hole
The plus-minus stat isn't always the most accurate reading on a player's contributions but when someone's minus-22, there's usually something to it.
And that's where Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza finds himself, ranking 815 out of 820 players. Teammate Milan Michalek is right behind him at 816 (minus-23).
“You guys might know better than me,” Spezza told Chris Stevenson of the Ottawa Sun, "but I don’t think I’ve been on the ice for that many more goals-against than I have in the past. I just haven’t scored as many five-on-five, as a line. I’ve always been a great five-on-five player and scored most of my goals five-on-five.”
The centerman hasn't had a consistent set of wingers flanking him this season, but he's not using that as an excuse -- despite not scoring an even-strength goal since Nov.24.
“I’m playing with whoever I’m playing with that night, and it’s my job to produce," he said. "It’s not the ideal situation every night, but it’s my job to figure it out and make sure I’m producing more than I am.”
Moulson hurt
The Matt Moulson trade rumors have hit pause -- at least for now.
The Buffalo Sabres winger was injured late in the team's 3-2 win last Thursday over the Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena and is expected to be out of the lineup until after the Olympic break.
"I was just hoping he got the puck in, then all of a sudden, I watched it afterwards, a little whack on the stick and a hit into the boards," coach Ted Nolan told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. "It was just one of those freaky things that happened.
"It’s definitely an upper-body injury that’s going to keep him out. He was pretty sore after the game (Thursday) night, but it doesn’t look like it’s really too, too serious. If he’s a fast mender, you never know."
Moulson is an impending unrestricted free agent and has nine goals and 24 points.

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